Despite achieving international acclaim, including a British Bafta nomination, Almodovar's Bad Education was only nominated for four Goyas, Spain's national film awards.

Meanwhile Amenabar's euthanasia drama The Sea Inside walked away with a record tally of awards including best film and best director.

Unfavourable

A member of the academy for 17 years, Almodovar resigned alongside his brother Augustin, who produces many of his films.

In a statement from their production company El Deseo, the brothers said they disagreed with new voting procedures which meant artists could only be nominated for awards by members of their own profession.

Agustin Almodovar told state radio: "We think that the current voting system is seriously unfavourable to certain films like ours and means very important people or work are left out."

Almodovar's 2002 film Talk To Her won an Oscar for best original screenplay, following his previous win for 1999's All About My Mother in the best foreign language film category.